George Gongora/Special to the Caller-Times
Lewis Simmons, 3, gets a lick from Roxie, a therapy dog, during a program called "Read with Me Roxie" at the Janet F. Harte Public Library on Sept. 22.

CORPUS CHRISTI - Some children struggling with reading are finding that a dog is the secret to learning new tricks. Trainer Christine Martin has spent the past year visiting schools and libraries, encouraging students to read aloud to an attentive and patient audience: Roxie, a five-year-old golden retriever.

"Reading to a dog allows the kids to relax and not feel like they're pressured," Martin said. "They don't have someone constantly correcting them."

While kids sit in small groups or one-on-one with Roxie, they might start by reading her single words. More confident readers take on entire pages or stories. Most also like to run their fingers through her honey-colored fur. Roxie, tail wagging, basks in the attention.

"She loves going and she loves children," Martin said. "She beats me to the door. When I put on certain shoes and clothes, she knows we're going to read."

While both human and canine feedback shows that reading together is fun, research holds that it is also beneficial. A 2011 study by Tufts University concluded that while reading to dogs, a nonjudgmental audience, children can shed their inhibitions. Their skills increase. The positive experience also boosts kids' enthusiasm for reading.

On a recent visit to the Janet F. Harte Public Library, Sam Simmons watched his sons Marquis, 10, Rey, 8, and Lewis, 3, read "See You Later, Alligator" with Martin and Roxie. The boys, who grew up in Japan, are working on building their English vocabularies.

"When I first came in and saw a dog in the library, I thought, 'That's weird,'" Simmons said. "But my wife had heard about this. We come to the library to encourage them to read as much as possible."

In addition to Roxie, Martin has two Maltipoos: Moose and Gigi. All are certified by READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs), a program by Intermountain Therapy Animals.

Martin, a communications student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, said she hopes to make a career of working with therapy animals. Meanwhile, Martin, Roxie, Moose, and Gigi work as volunteers. They plan monthly visits to the Harte Library, and they love invitations to schools.

They also receive compliments.

"Parents have said they've noticed a difference," Martin said. "Some parents have even told me stories where the kids go home and read to their own dogs."

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READ WITH ROXIE

For more information about Roxie, visit

readwithmeroxie.com

Find out when Roxie will visit the Janet F. Harte Public Library next at www.facebook.com/hartelibrary